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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsRomney: I Didn’t Even Know About That Bermuda Company!
Benjy Sarlin
Mitt Romney disavowed any responsibility for investments in the Cayman Islands and Bermuda, saying his personal finances are part of a blind trust thats out of his control. Democrats have seized on reports on the holdings, about which little is known, to demand Romney release more of his tax returns and related material.
I dont manage them, I dont even know where they are, Romney told Radio Iowa Monday of his investment portfolio. That trustee follows all U.S. laws, all taxes are paid as appropriate, all of them have been reported to the government. Theres nothing hidden there.
Blind trusts are common among politicians. According to an Associated Press report, records show Romney transferred 12,000 shares in the Bermuda company to his wifes blind trust the day before he was sworn in as governor in 2003, a transaction that was not publicly disclosed at the time.
Romney said his Caribbean holdings were no different in terms of taxes than investing in, say, a foreign car company.
<...>
For the first time, President Obama on Monday personally joined Democrats in demanding Romney release his tax returns and clear up the nature of the companies in question.
Whats important is if you are running for president is that the American people know who you are and what youve done and that youre an open book, Obama told a New Hampshire television station. And thats been true of every presidential candidate dating all the way back to Mitt Romneys father.
- more -
http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/07/romney-bermuda-swiss-cayman-blind-trust.php
flamingdem
(39,313 posts)liar this close to the presidency.
randome
(34,845 posts)I want to believe he is but where is the evidence?
"I want to believe he is but where is the evidence?"
...he "transferred 12,000 shares in the Bermuda company to his wifes blind trust the day before he was sworn in as governor" and didn't publicly disclose it. So there is no way to claim he didn't know.
Also: "Romney said his Caribbean holdings were no different in terms of taxes than investing in, say, a foreign car company."
Really? That's the mark of a liar. Buying a Fiat is not the same as hiding money offshore.
Mitt is a despicable liar.
randome
(34,845 posts)But is anyone going to be interested in something that happened in 2003 when he transferred shares to his wife?
And who is to say that he knew what the shares amounted to when he transferred them? There is plausible deniability here, at least for the Republicans who will always see their latest 'hero' in the best possible light.
And what he said about his Caribbean holdings isn't a lie, it's just another stupid remark. Nothing we can hit him over the head with since he's already immune to stupid by virtue of being a Republican.
Unless this somehow leads to a smoking gun, I don't see it being of much use to Democrats.
CanonRay
(14,104 posts)I'd bet the farm on it. That's why he'll only release one year of returns...he's hoping he can stall until they do the billion dollar media blitz, win/steal the election, and bury the story when he's Pres the same way Bush buried his National Guard AWOL story.
riderinthestorm
(23,272 posts)Yet he transferred $$ to that account in Ann's name one day before he's sworn in? That's a pretty specific action and you can't tell me that he then simply "forgot" about it. I'm sure Ann and Mitt have conversations about "her" (cough) investments - she's not bound to secrecy with him about her financial matters.
Arkansas Granny
(31,518 posts)they claim that Barack Obama was born in Kenya and not Hawaii as his birth certificate states.
Seriously, the dates won't be as important as proving a pattern of lies about his finances. It won't be the details that will matter as much as the overall perception that he is a liar.
rfranklin
(13,200 posts)which is nothing estraordinary for a politician. However, he has no sense of shame when he is caught. He just goes ahead and lies some more.
prole_for_peace
(2,064 posts)and personal associate Bradford Malt. That's not exactly what is meant by "blind".
democrat_patriot
(2,774 posts)If not, why is he hiding? Why is he covering it all up?
uponit7771
(90,347 posts)...about something like that
Spazito
(50,365 posts)"According to an Associated Press report, records show Romney transferred 12,000 shares in the Bermuda company to his wifes blind trust the day before he was sworn in as governor in 2003..."
So, he knew before he didn't know. What he knew in 2003, he doesn't know in 2004.
Igel
(35,320 posts)The thing about blind trusts is that if you have any say over them, formal or informal, they're not blind.
Whether the lawyer is his personal lawyer or somebody he met once, if it was found that the lawyer was coordinating with his client he'd be brought up on charges before the bar.
What's fascinating is the assumption that a woman doesn't actually control assest in her name--or, apparently, at the very least always coordinates with the husband.
Spazito
(50,365 posts)The transfer just ONE day before he was sworn in defies credibility, imo. As for "blind trusts", please, it is, all too often, less than blind.
A woman certainly can and often does control assets in her name, in this case you seem to be ignoring the central issue, that being Mr. Outsource/Offshore transferred HIS shares ONE day before being sworn in as Governor.
Portfolios do change but that has little to do with the central issue being discussed, imo.
Dalai_1
(1,301 posts)it is amazing no one has brought this contradiction to his attention...
Spazito
(50,365 posts)either Mr. Outsource/Offshore is not taking their advice resulting in these kind of jawdropping statements or his campaign team is the worst team I have ever seen.
Either way, the debates are going to be VERY entertaining, lol.
DevonRex
(22,541 posts)here more often.
riderinthestorm
(23,272 posts)presumably she and Mitt talk about the assets in "her" (cough) accounts.... There's no rule that prevents HER from discussing this with him.
And he conveniently transfers them to HER the day before he's sworn in? Really fishy....
Now he doesn't "remember" that Bermuda corporation? Riiiiiggghhht....
coalition_unwilling
(14,180 posts)wouldn't you release your returns?"
Oh, that logic only applies to left-wing activists concerned about warrantless wiretaps.
CanonRay
(14,104 posts)It's closer to him than his kids.
JBoy
(8,021 posts)I'm confused - Romney's been saying ad nauseum that he's a businessman, not a politician.
spanone
(135,844 posts)flamingdem
(39,313 posts)and according to Wapo, a questionable poll has him tied with Obama, retch.
Botany
(70,516 posts)Fumesucker
(45,851 posts)Aerows
(39,961 posts)the abortion medical waste disposal company, or the Backroom.com sex site investment either.
For a man portrayed as methodical and relentlessly informed about his assets, he sure doesn't know very much.
But let's just sweep it under the carpet, because he's a Republican, and they can do no damn wrong.
He's a fake, a phony and a person that lies as easily as breathing.
EDIT: Oh. I forgot Solamere, the company he and his son were intertwined with that turned out to be a ponzi scheme. He's still, to my knowledge, under investigation for that, but no one in the MSM brings it up. It takes the dredging up of court records by citizens to even get it on the radar.
DevonRex
(22,541 posts)Mormons don't hold with such things. I know. I have a Mormon family members. The women would be horrified. Mortified even.
Aerows
(39,961 posts)This isn't something made up out of the air.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/03/ann-romney-trust-goldman-sachs-backpagecom_n_1399204.html
I hate sending people to huffpo, but it's still the truth. He has a LOT of investments he's "unaware" of.
Here's another good one: http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2011/11/01/316040/romney-solamere-ponzi/
DevonRex
(22,541 posts)scheme and lied about it! OMG. The whole family is crooked. I had hoped it was just psychodad. But nope. It's the whole bunch.
progressivebydesign
(19,458 posts)And it was named for a lighthouse in Mass... so it's just a coincidence???
ananda
(28,866 posts)We are to trust blindly in someone who puts his trust in blind trusts.
Hey ho ...
Blue Owl
(50,423 posts)n/t
lib2DaBone
(8,124 posts)Mitt feels your pain......
Politicalboi
(15,189 posts)LOL! This Saturday I hope the Paulbots fuck everything up for Rmoney.
mchill
(1,018 posts)Then he can't be paying his full tithing to the LDS church. Shame.
Marr
(20,317 posts)Also, give me a tax cut!
...?
JHB
(37,160 posts)Maybe you should hold yourself to a higher standard? Nahhh, why bother with that? You're just after what's due you, right?
DallasNE
(7,403 posts)Why would a blind trust simply change ownership from husband to wife on a large account the day before Romney is sworn in as Governor? The only purpose for this is to shield Romney from certain disclosure requirements for the office he was about to be sworn into. There was not an investment advantage, which should be the only criteria the blind trust uses. This shows the trust is not so blind and that Romney was a hands-on guy when it came to managing his financial affairs. And that is what is believable and what Romney refuses to address truthfully.
Aerows
(39,961 posts)been portrayed as very cautious, very hands-on. That's why this, his investment in the abortion waste disposal company, and the sex site is obvious that he knew about it. He just likes plausible denial, but he really can't based on his own actions.
mac56
(17,569 posts)krobar659
(35 posts)I don't know whether or not he lied about it. What I do know, as time goes on, is that this guy is weird. He puts on a law enforcement officer's uniform, throws a red light on his white car, and pulls people over on the highway. Weird Willard puts on a fireman's uniform, runs into a restaurant with a fire extinguisher yelling "Where is the fire?" Organizes a mob to go cut a classmate's hair because he just can't have that at his school. Look at what he did with the family pet dog.
Bottom line is this...there is something seriously wrong with this guy and I think that he needs professional help.
Not only is this guy out of touch with your average middle class Americas, Willard Mitt Romney is out of touch with reality.
I think that the American people need to seriously think twice before electing this guy President.
Motown_Johnny
(22,308 posts)^snip^
During the second presidential debate between George W. Bush and John Kerry (10-8-2004), John Kerry was asked a question about how America could remain competitive in manufacturing. During the answers and rebuttals between Senator Kerry and President Bush, the following exchange took place:
KERRY: The president got $84 from a timber company that owns, and he's counted as a small business. That's how they do things. That's just not right.
BUSH: I own a timber company? That's news to me. Need some wood?
A funny exchange, intended to make Kerry look like a liar and/or an idiot. Only one problem...yes, the President does, in fact, own a timber company.